Cool, early mornings signal arrival of state’s migratory bird seasons

KLEINFELTERSVILLE — Perhaps it is the unexpected cool early mornings and accompanying soaking dew that make the approaching early migratory bird seasons really seem like the beginning of the 2014-15 hunting seasons.

As in previous years the statewide resident Canada goose season and dove season both open Labor Day on Monday, Sept. 1. Goose season is open through Thursday, Sept. 25, maintaining a daily bag limit of eight and a possession limit of 24. The newly expanded dove season is open through Saturday, Nov. 15, with a daily bag limit of 15 and a possession limit of 45.

Shooting hours during the September goose season are one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset, except when the season overlaps with youth waterfowl hunting days. On those days, shooting hours end at sunset.

Closed during this season are the controlled hunting areas at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area and all of State Game Lands 46 to address the decline in the resident Canada goose flock. Overall, Pennsylvania Game Commission waterfowl biologist Kevin Jacobs said that recent liberalizations in Canada goose hunting opportunities and control programs being implemented by many municipalities, along with public and private landowners, appear to be stabilizing the growth of the state’s resident Canada goose population.

This year the Pennsylvania spring resident Canada goose population was estimated at 241,732, which is statistically similar to the recent 10-year average of 266,306 geese. Still, populations remain significantly above the management goal of 150,000.

Meanwhile, Federal frameworks have allowed the PGC to increase the total season length for doves from 70 to 90 days. Previously, the first segment of the split season started and ended in September, and much of October was closed to dove hunting.

“Pennsylvania dove hunters who responded to a recently completed survey indicated they generally prefer as many dove hunting days in early autumn as possible,” PGC Birds Section head Ian Gregg said. “As a result, the additional days have been routed to the early season segment to create 2½ months of continuous dove hunting.”

Hunting hours during the longer first segment are from noon until sunset from Sept. 1 through Sept. 25. Beginning Sept. 26 and through Nov. 15, hunting hours begin one-half hour before sunrise and end at sunset.

Two shorter dove seasons during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays have been retained, and Gregg said this also is in response to the survey results that showed these later seasons are popular and productive times for the most avid dove hunters to be afield. A seven-day season will be held Saturday-Saturday, Nov. 22-29, and a five-day season will be held from Saturday, Dec. 27, to Thursday, Jan. 1, with hunting hours during these seasons one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.

Saturday, Sept. 20, is the first of two youth waterfowl hunting days. The second day will vary by duck-hunting zone and will be announced when late migratory game bird seasons are selected later this month. Youth waterfowl days are open to licensed junior hunters ages 12-15 who are accompanied by an adult. The adult may assist the youth in calling, duck identification and other aspects of the hunt.

Pennsylvania’s woodcock season retains its longer format this year, opening Saturday, Oct. 18, and closing Saturday, Nov. 29. Maintained is the daily bag limit of three and the possession limit of nine.

Migratory game bird hunters, including those afield for doves and woodcock, are required to obtain and carry a Pennsylvania migratory game bird license and a general hunting, combination or lifetime license. All waterfowl hunters age 16 and older also must possess a federal migratory game bird and conservation stamp.

Additional information on migratory bird seasons will be posted later this month on the PGC website at www.pgc.state.pa.us.

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